a long one...

Yesterday was Good Friday and we spent most of the day just sitting around. The weather was gray and little sun but it was a bit warm. Susanna and I cooked a late supper of chicken and veggies-one of my favorites.
Last evening we were invited to go to a village called Oodi to participate in their Good Friday service. We went with a Batswana man named Jackson and Steen, a Danish pastor who lives very close. The drive was rugged, over terrain that was washed out by the recent rains. We first stopped at the Archbishop's house, a woman by the way. Inside we were introduced to several people. The children inside were very curious and if I giggled a little it set them off in great peals of laughter.
Soon we were on our way to church. We arrived at a rather small building with many folks outside just waiting. There is alot of waiting in Africa! Because we were guests, Susanna and I were invited to wait to go in with the maruti, pastors. The woman and men danced and sang into church and soon we were seated at a head table for pastors! The singing was wonderful. I should say something about our dress. We were to wear dresses or skirts , cover our hair and wear a shawl. All the women dress this way in church and many women wear uniforms to church as well as the men.
I was asked to do a formal greeting and was translated for the church family. We were greeted most warmly and it was so gracious.
The very long service and I do mean long, consisted of a lot of Bible reading, always good, and much singing. The reading was done in Zulu and Setswana. The singing! Those commercials or movies where you hear a man's voice sing out to be answered by the women- so completely true and on every song. These people sing out loudly and beautifully. The only instrument was one drum which was handled by a woman.
At about 3ooam, yes 3am, we participated in a foot washing service and communion. Then we were prayed over. I have never been in a foot washing service-it was just really touching.
After that, the women sang some more, and then some of the men hushed them a bit. It was time for the dancing! Both men and women danced in a large circle, singing and making great sounds together. The dancing developed faster and became a little rough so most women dropped out of the circle. During this time, people would go to the center of the circle, and someone would come and pray for them. Exciting!
The church was lit by candles and one very small electric light. The men and women sat on opposite sides.
I had a young woman who decided to translate alot of the service for me. She was very warm and we enjoyed speaking to one another. She introduced me to several of the village women. I am still a bit leery of some of the village men as they are very bold about hitting on women. I mean really bold. One of Botswana's social issues is that there are a lot of non marriages. The men will get a women pregnant and yet not marry her "just in case." Some of these men have alot of children running around and AIDs is so prevelant! Much prayer is needed. Many feel as though this is the way it is-a stark reality. Many of the women are very cynical about life. It is hard here, and their personal life is also very hard. The younger women seem to want to change that-they are trying to become very independent of the grimness. I pray this happens.